spittoons

A spittoon, also known as a cuspidor, is a receptacle designed to collect spit from tobacco users and other liquids. It is typically a wide-mouthed vessel with a sturdy base, and it may be made of porcelain, ceramic, metal, glass, or stoneware. Many models include a lid or a recessed interior to reduce odor and splatter.

Spittoons gained prominence in the 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the United States and Europe. They were common in public spaces such as saloons, hotels, offices, and railway cars, where chewing tobacco and snuff were widely used.

Design variations range from tall pedestal units and floor-standing basins to wall-mounted flush devices and portable pails. Some spittoons were designed with spouts or narrow throats to discourage splashing and to allow easier cleaning.

Culturally, spittoons are closely associated with the era of heavy tobacco use in the West and in urban centers, and they appear in period art, literature, and film as symbols of the times. Ornate examples could be decorative as well as functional, reflecting fashions of different periods.

Their decline began in the early 20th century, tied to public health campaigns and changing tobacco habits. Today, spittoons are mainly collected as antiques or preserved in museums, where they illustrate social norms and material culture of their era. Some remain in use in limited contexts, but they are largely obsolete in ordinary public and commercial spaces.